The vote on the tax rate and budget was supposed to happen a week earlier but got rescheduled because of issues with rules. The city didn鈥檛 properly advertise the required public hearing for the budget. The council can鈥檛 vote on the budget until there鈥檚 a hearing on it, and it can鈥檛 approve the tax rate until the budget is approved.
All that led to the budget and tax rate votes happening a week late and a few days before the fiscal year starts Oct. 1.
The budget includes an increase in funding for public safety and money for the city鈥檚 racial equity plan. The additional expenditures would be funded by an increase in revenue from sales and property taxes and federal COVID-19 relief funds.
Dallas mayor Eric Johnson praised city manager T.C. Broadnax for his work on the budget.
鈥淭his is the best budget I have seen since I鈥檝e been mayor of this city,鈥� Johnson said
The city also lowered the property tax rate to 74.58 cents per $100 of a home鈥檚 value. But appraised home values have increased, so most homeowners in Dallas won鈥檛 see a lower number on their tax bill.
Johnson said it was the largest tax rate cut in modern Dallas history. But Council member Cara Mendelsohn said she was disappointed in the tax rate.
"The tax rate could have been, and should have been, lower," she said.
Dallas residents will also see an increase in their city water, storm drainage and sanitation fees. The sanitation fee will go up to $35.81 a month, and the storm drainage fee will go up by 40 cents. Waste and wastewater fees will go up to an average of about $70 a month. Fees are going up because of rising gas prices, new equipment costs and to pay for the $3 increase in minimum wage for city employees.
Johnson said the budget prioritizes public safety. The Dallas Police Department's budget is $612 million 鈥� that鈥檚 an increase of more than $40 million. The added funding includes 250 more officers and financial incentives to keep officers who are about to retire for another year. The police department is also creating a night detail team for the city鈥檚 entertainment district, where businesses are concerned about crime.
The approved budget also includes funding to implement the city鈥檚 racial equity plan, which was approved in August. The plan addresses the city鈥檚 racist history by using city resources to reduce racial disparities.
Other items included in the budget:
Transportation and Infrastructure
- Investing more into the City鈥檚 infrastructure for streets, alleys, bridges, and sidewalks.
Economic Development
- Hire more permit clerks for the city鈥檚 building permit process to improve the customers鈥� experience.
- Initiate the master plan for Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center.
Environment and Sustainability
- Protect the city's tree canopy and slow the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer.
- Invest in environmental justice and remediation efforts.
Housing and Homeless Solutions
- Protect people experiencing homelessness during inclement weather
- Launch a Homeless Action Response Team.
Alejandra Martinez contributed reporting.
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